2003 Mazda MPV TCS/TCS Off/ABS/eBrake lights on

[Ryland]

My son mid last week shorted the cigarette lighter which blew the cig lighters fuse which I replaced. My wife drove the van for the remainder of last week with no issues. Today she starts it up and the above mentioned lights are all on and we also had a torrential downpour. Im trying to figure out whether it is just something wet from the downpour or could there be something electrical going on to my sons moment of pure stupidity last week.

Has anybody else run into these lights all coming on at once? Quick googling says its the ABS fuse but why would that blow?

 

[cprince]

ABS fuse can blow easily to protect the ABS computer. I know it is in my very old e30 BMW. It has a circuit that blows the fuse if the car battery is connected the wrong way.

But in your case, check the brake fluid level first. It could be low and trigger the warning light.

 

[Ryland]

Would it trigger the warnings for all of those? I did just find out that my wife drove through a "deep" puddle on Friday due to all the rain we have had recently so that might have gotten water into a sensor.

 

[5150MyU]

ABS computer controls all those lights-without ABS you have no TCS.
Get the code(s) read.
Doubtful it was your son-lighter and glove box are the only things on that fuse.

 

[Ryland]

The ABS fuse is fine. Im going to make an appt to get the code read. The puddle may have killed one of the ABS sensors taking the whole thing down.

 

[5150MyU]

To clarify(not to you Ryland)if any of those lights come on in your car ABS is disabled. If you have a hydroboost system-get it checked immediately-vacuum boost you can drive like the cops.

 

[Ryland]

I will find out on Monday what the problem is.

 

[Need4Speed]

the ABS wheel sensors got wet. Once the sensor gets wet it throws the ABS light. Since TCS relies on ABS to function correctly it throws that light too. It has happened on my MazdaSpeed6 on occasion in heavy heavy rains. It'll dry out and should be fine. It's not just a mazda issue. google rain and ABS sensors and you'll find a slew of people that report similar issues on all makes and models of cars.

 

[Need4Speed]

just an example :

http://www.google.com/search?q=abs+...l=&oq=&pbx=1&bav=on.1,or.&fp=18e4c0cc530c3619

I was on a long distance trip a couple months ago when this happened to me. Nonstop downpour for a couple days .. standing water everywhere. I had stopped to get coffee and when I came back to start the car all the lights were on. What stinks is that those systems are supposed to help you most during conditions like that, yet they are sensitive to moisture.

 

[Ryland]

Well it looks like it is supposed to be fairly dry until Monday so hopefully the system will dry out and I wont need to bring it into the shop. Thanks for that info.

 

[Need4Speed]

Well it looks like it is supposed to be fairly dry until Monday so hopefully the system will dry out and I wont need to bring it into the shop. Thanks for that info.

you can always stop at autozone and have them read the codes and clear them for you if they do not clear on their own. I am not sure about your mazda, but in some cases the code won't clear even if the condition no longer exists. it has to be cleared manually. have you verified that ABS is working again by doing some aggressive braking to attempt wheel lockup? that should tell you that at least the system is back to normal and it just needs the code cleared.

 

[Ryland]

Autozone can't read the ABS codes, only the engine codes (My wife checked for me yesterday). I haven't actually driven the van in a few weeks so I have no idea whether ABS is working.

 

[5150MyU]

If ABS light is on ABS is not working-that said
I agree with N4S-do some aggressive stops when things dry up.
Most car computers are self correcting-some take umpteen starts some one.
Depends on the system that is being monitored
ABS is usually more finicky in that it always monitors stuff-BUT on the next engine start if the problem is not evident (running and/or brake applied) the light should go out.
YMMV-Don't know your vehicle.

 

[Ryland]

If I get a chance I will, luckily have some space that I can test this on.

According to my wife the van stops fine so Im not too worried about it. We have had a lot of rain lately so it is probably a moisture situation

 

[5150MyU]

If you can get the code read for free I would-then you may know what part to replace next year.

 

[5150MyU]

Just razzin' ya.

 

[Vette73]

You can sometimes disconnect the battery for a couple minutes to clear it. Does not work all the time for ABC codes though.

Could be a simple wheel sensor or major like the main computer.

 

[Ryland]

If you can get the code read for free I would-then you may know what part to replace next year.

The code read, yeah but I wont put the repair off beyond next week. I dont like playing around with my wifes van but should get around to changing the rotors in my Mazda 3 since they are at 85% wear...

 

[5150MyU]

What I meant is that when things dry up the light may go off and all will be fine, but the code will be stored in history.
So next time you go puddle hopping you'll have a good idea where to look for the problem if drying out doesn't cure it.
With ABS disabled of course the brakes will act normal-just not as designed.
I know 2 people that unplug and tape up their wheel speed sensor to disable ABS because they don't like it-They don't have TCS though.
They just plug it back in come sticker time.

 

[Ryland]

Ok, I get what you are saying. Hopefully I can keep her from going puddle skimming again

 

[5150MyU]

I lied, one just pulls the fuse.

 

[Doppel]

Even if you require yearly inspections for your vehicle it's very possible that you can pass without functioning ABS and with the ABS light on. I know this from recent experience.

Be careful testing ABS in a minivan in dry conditions. Locking it up could have the rear kick out. But, if your light is on, it's really a given that ABS isn't working.

 

[Ryland]

It ended up being a rear ABS sensor that was shot. $350 later its fixed...

 

[Vette73]

It ended up being a rear ABS sensor that was shot. $350 later its fixed...

Where was that? Part cost less than $100.

 

[5150MyU]

Dealer? At $100 an hour.

Diagnose $50
Part @100
Labor $100-it pays 1.0hrs. to R&R.

Some charge a flat fee of one hour for diagnosis-so it could have cost him $400.

Where most ABS systems are self-correcting, He could have just paid for the diagnosis and installed the part himself.
So he could have cut the cost in half+ $or more if he got the code read for free.

So if it was a dealer or good shop(<that means higher priced)his bill is reasonable.